Michigan State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension pro-grams and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age,

height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in fur-therance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not

mentioned. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

Kalamazoo County

Contact Us

Veronica Bolhuis 4-H Program Coordinator (269) 383-8867 bolhuisv@msu.edu Tyler Augst 4-H Program Coordinator (269) 383-8878 augsttyl@msu.edu 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave.

Suite 306 Kalamazoo, MI. 49007 Phone 269-383-8830 main line MSU Extension Email msue.kalamazoo@campusad.msu.edu Web Site http://canr.msu.edu/kalamazoo4H

June 2019

50th ANNIVERSARY of the 4-H Exploration Days !

June 19-21, 2019

For everything Exploration Days

related see:

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/

program/

info/4_h_exploration_days

4-H Day is offered to 4-H members, volunteers and families.

Are you looking for 4-H events for your club? Our 4-H Day is available to members of 4-H and their families or clubs only. Tickets purchased at the 4-H Day rate ($26.00) are non-refundable and are only valid on the event date. Tickets must be purchased at the park on the day of your outing.

Lunch is available for $7.00 per person in our catering area from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Meal tickets are required and may be purchased along with your admission tickets. The menu consists of a hot dog, macaroni salad, chips and a soft drink. Guests may not bring food, beverages or coolers into the park. Wear your uniforms and show your pride in your organ-ization! Please register your 4-H club in advance.

2

Kalamazoo Project/Club News

Poultry type Pick up date

Market (Peking)

Duck

June 11

Broiler June 18

Cornish June 25

There are over

210 breeds of

goats.

The breeds are

so different ,

Adult sizes can

range in size

from 22 lb to

over 300 pounds!

Ask to join the our Facebook page:

Kalamazoo County 4-H Poultry Group

for fun and educa-tional discussions

Don’t Forget to pick up your poultry!

Upcoming Goat project meetings

The goat project will be meeting at the

Expo Center on the following dates:

June 25, Room B, 6:30 pm

July 27, Room B, 1pm—3pm

Educational superintendent is - Hannah Walters (269) 998 2182

Organizational superintendent—Char Balkema (269) 312-2635

First year/mentor superintendent—Kerri Martin (269) 420-3438

3 4-H Pollinators Project is happy to welcome you

To their next meeting on June 27th 6:30pm

At the Great Lakes Bee Supply Store

33 W. Battle Creek St, Galesburg, MI 49053

You do not have to be a member to join us, but please

RSVP with Veronica at bolhuisv@msu.edu.

Kalamazoo Project/Club News

4 Kalamazoo Project/Club News

Are you interested in tabletop role playing games (RPGs) like

Dungeons & Dragons? Are you 12-19 years old?

Then you should join a 4-H Tabletop Gaming SPIN Club that are forming now! No ex-perience with table top role playing games (RPGs) is needed. You will learn how to play the popular tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons as you play through an epic story.

Along the way you will learn how to let your inner creativity flow, work as a team, problem solve puzzles and battles, and so much more! The club will meet at local game shops weekly for 2 hour sessions in June.

For meeting dates and more information contact: Tyler Augst

augsttyl@msu.edu

(269) 383-8878

Chris Chase is selling Wenke Bucks (gift certificates) this spring to help support 4-H youth craft projects. The cost is $10.00 for one of the gift certificates and a portion of those funds raised will help to support the program. If you are interested in sprucing up your garden and helping to support youth craft projects , Please contact Chris Chase at

christinamariechase@gmail.com

5 KALAMAZOO COUNTY ANIMAL PROJECTS INFORMATION

SMALL MAMMALS & POCKET PETS (Cavies and Critters)

Do you have a small and fury pet like a guinea pig, rat or chinchilla or maybe a leopard gecko, bearded dragon or a snake? What about a finch, parakeet or par-rot? This may be the 4-H project for you!

The following meetings are scheduled for the Cavies & Critters project:

Wed. June 19 6:30pm Room A

Tues. July 16 6:30pm Room B

To show your pet in this project at the Kalamazoo County Youth fair in August 2019, 4-H youth need to attend at least 3 county wide meetings / events for the Small Mammal, Reptiles & Pet Bird project.

We also have opportunities to participate in the Greater Galesburg Days 4-H petting zoo Saturday June 15 and Kindleberger Park Petting Zoo Saturday July 12.

Mark your calendars and

come join the fun!

If you have any questions please contact :

Andrea McCubbin, Superintendent,

Cell phone 598-5231 or

email jamccubin@aol.com

6 Kalamazoo Project/Club News

Carcass Project News

THERE IS NO SCHEDULED MEETING IN JUNE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS JULY 22

Plan ahead with your work schedules

for both competition dates:

Attendance is mandatory for BOTH.

Monday, July 29, 2019 6 pm Wednesday, July 31, 2019 10 am

If you have any questions, contact the superintendents Cindy and Kevin Rose at kevintherose@aol.com, or call at 269.317.3462

Dairy:

If you have not yet picked out a heifer–

Please contact Sara.

Dairy Show:

Friday, August 2 at 7:00 at Vlietstra Dairy Farm. Please contact Sara if you have ques-

tions! Members: Please join the Kalamazoo County 4-H Dairy Club on Facebook for

additional info.

July 18- Fitting and Showmanship clinic

Feeder Calves will be combining with the Beef project for a fitting and showmanship clinic on July 18 at 6pm at the Myer Farm (7565 40th St South, Scotts MI 49088). We will be going over the basics of fitting steers for show as well has having some showing tips.

This will be a potluck, so we ask every family to bring a dish to pass and a lawn chair.

Hot dogs, lemonade, and paperware will be provided

July 27- Barn cleanup

Starting at 8 am – we will be cleaning up the dairy/feeder calf barn at the fair-grounds.

Please bring rags, buckets, scrub brushes, paint brush/rollers, and a smile! Pizza and pop will be provided for those that help.

Kalamazoo Project/Club News

Cat Project

Who ever wondered

about the proper

way to carry a cat?

This month in the cat

project we will be

working on cat

showmanship.

Join us at the fair-

grounds in June 28,

at 6”30 in Room B

and learn how to

show off your fantas-

tic feline.

You will learn how to

carry, pose, and ex-

amine a cat. Along

the way, we will talk

about cat body

types, shapes, and

colors.

Cats are welcome as

long as they have

been fully vaccinat-

ed. All project mem-

bers must come to at

least one meeting if

they intend to show

at fair.

7

4-H Bird Watching Spin Club! Learn all about our fine feathered friends! A collaboration between MSU Extension and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Bird Watching Spin Club will help youth in 1st - 6th grade improve their bird watching skills by learning to use tools including binocu-lars, spotting scopes, identification guides, and apps. Participants will go on hikes outside, sketch birds, and more This Bird Watching SPIN Club is taught by Kara Haas, Lisa Duke and Melinda Pepper. Kara is the Science Education and Outreach Coordinator at MSU's Kellogg Biological Station. She is a Michigan-raised naturalist and loves to take people outside to ex-perience and learn about the natural world. Lisa Duke is the Manager at MSU's Kel-logg Bird Sanctuary and is an experienced animal caretaker. Melinda Pepper is one of Barry County 4-H's program coordinator and is responsible for organizing unique SPIN Clubs in the area. Together Kara, Lisa and Melinda are a fun team, passionate about birds and helping kids explore the outdoors. The instructors are also screened MSU Extension 4-H volunteers.

Who: Any youth in 1st - 6th grade (for the 2019 school year) When: June 25 & 27, July 1, 3, 9 & 11, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Where: Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, MI 49012

Please plan to attend class with your child if they are 14 or younger. Your role will be to support your young bird watcher during the program by learning alongside them, helping when needed and stepping back to let them figure things out when appropriate.

Registration required by June 14

Cost: $20 for 4-H members, $40 for new 4-H members. New 4-H members must enroll at https://mi.4honline.com upon acceptance to 4-H Bird Watching SPIN Club

Contact Information For more information contact Barry County 4-H, Melinda Pepper 4-H Program Co-ordinator at pepperm3@msu.edu or 269 945-1388 ext. 1086.

8

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Have You Sold Cattle on the Farm?

If so, be sure you paid the $1 Checkoff.

Did You Know?

Every time you sell a bovine animal, regardless of age, sex, breed, purpose, or number a dol-

lar-a-head is due. The dollar is to be collected by the buyer from the seller, although both par-

ties are responsible for remittance. The Checkoff is designed so that everyone pays their fair

share.

How are you Checkoff dollars being used?

• Beef and veal television, radio, and print advertising

• Food safety, health and nutrition research

• Product technology and development

• Educating consumers and children about beef’s role in a healthy diet

• Refuting issues that could negatively impact the beef industry (such as BSE, E. Coli and

Foot-and-Mouth disease.)

How Do You Pay?

Complete a remittance form and mail it along with your check to the Michigan Beef Industry

Commission. Additional remittance forms are available through the Michigan Beef Industry

Commission, 2145 University Park Drive, Suite 300, Okemos, MI 48864. Fax: (517) 347-0919

Who Pays?

When cattle are sold or imported, the buyer of the cattle must withhold a $1 per head, or

equivalent, from the seller’s purchase price. Failure to do so is a violation of the law and

may be subject to a $5,500 penalty. It’s the law—no one is exempt.

Visit http://www.mibeef.org/checkoffinfo.aspx,

go to Checkoff Info and then to Checkoff Remittance Form.

Health Requirements for Livestock Exhibited

in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development de-

fines Health Requirements for Livestock exhibited in

Michigan.

2018 requirements can be found https:/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/

mdard/2019_Fairs_and_Exhibitions_Requirements-Web_645562_7.pdf

9

THE FAIR IS COMING SOON!

The 2019 Kalamazoo County Youth Fair is going to be a blast! Lots of fun activities and attractions are

in the works for Fair week. For everything County Fair, visit www.kalcounty.com/parks/fair/

fairinfo.htm We are even planning fun stuff just for 4-Hers after the fair closes each night. Stay tuned

for more information!

2019Premium Book

The 2019 Premium Book and Entry Forms are available online at www.kalcounty.com/parks/fair/fairinfo.htm. The deadline for entries is MONDAY, JULY 1st . Entry forms must be turned into the Kalamazoo County Parks Office to be accepted. Forms will NOT be accepted at the 4-H office.

2019 Kalamazoo County Fair Camping Fees & Information

CAMPING RESERVATIONS

The camping reservation period for 2019 is now open. Deadline for reservations is July 19th.

To make a reservation, please call the Parks Office at (269)383-8778. Reservations can also be made in

person at the Parks Office located at:

2900 Lake Street, Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Full payment is required at the time of reservation. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are all accepted.

Helping Hands

2019 BARN CLEANUP DAY

This year’s barn cleanup day

will be held on July 27th at 8

am. The Kalamazoo County

Youth Fair is offering an all-

day ride voucher to any

youth who helps cleanup

their barns on that day. Let’s

help to make the 4-H mall

shine again for the 2019

Fair!

KALAMAZOO COUNTY YOUTH FAIR 2019

10 Display Your Vegetables at the County

Fair!

Do you have a green thumb? Are you or your family planting a garden this summer?

Did you know you can display your flowers and vegetables at the Kalamazoo Coun-

ty Youth Fair this summer? For more information on how to pick your best vegeta-

bles and how to display them, visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/selecting_vegetables_for_exhibit_4h1175

Meating the Need

For those of you selling your livestock at the Kalamazoo County Youth Fair,

your buyers can help to make a difference in our county! Buyers can des-

ignate their purchase to be donated to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, Kal-

amazoo Loaves and Fishes or 12 Baskets. All help those who are in need.

Please share this tax-deductible option to your livestock buyers.

Gardening Donations

Don’t forget that if you have extra produce in your garden, you can also

donate it to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes for use by clients who are in

need.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY YOUTH FAIR 2018

11

4-H Health U at MSU

The 4-H Healthy Living Team has organized and planned a fun hands on learning one day camp like experience at MSU. will take place on Friday , August 2rd. Youth will have the opportunity to learn skills related to being active, eating healthy, ways to be mindful, as well as continue being emotional aware. The cost for this one day experience will be $35 for 4-H Members and $50 for nonmem-bers. This includes: lunch at MSU, t-shirt, snacks, handouts/give ways.

Youth can register at https://events.anr.msu.edu/HealthyUatMSU/

Please register by the deadline of Friday, July 12th.

We look forward to this event sharing our love for Healthy Living with youth from across the state!! 4-H Healthy U at MSU is a fun hands on learning for youth aged 13 years old and up.

Register today--https://events.anr.msu.edu/HealthyUatMSU/

Apply now for

4-H Great Lakes & Natural Resources Camp

The 2019 4-H Great Lakes & Natural Resources Camp is

now accepting applications! Designed for youth aged 13

to 15, this program is held at Camp Chickagami in

Presque Isle, Aug. 4-10.

Campers explore dunes, hike forest trails, wade through wetlands, fish, snorkel and sail on Lake

Huron while educators and scientists teach them about the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Learn more and register today at :

https:www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_great_lakes_natural_resources_camp/ .

STATEWIDE CAMP OPPORTUNITIES

12 STATEWIDE NEWS

We are pleased to announce the dates for this year’s National 4-H Congress!

The 2019 National 4-H Congress will take place November 29 to December 3 in Atlanta, Georgia. During 4-H Congress, participants attend workshops about lead-ership development, character education, agriculture, cultural awareness and diversity education, workforce preparation, environmental stewardship, sci-ence and technology literacy, and communication skills development. This is a wonderful leadership and personal growth opportunity for youth. Janelle Stewart and Eric Dobbrastine will be serving as chaperones for up to 20 youth and Laura Potter-Niesen will be handling logistics.

In this capstone 4-H youth leadership event, 4-H youth from across the U.S. will come together to experience an exciting program, full of educational, service and leadership opportunities as well as local cultural tours and experiences. The event includes outstanding community leaders, speakers and educators. The exact cost will be determined based on the number of delegates and airfare, but will be around $1500. Fees include registration, hotel, airfare, and most meals. For more infor-mation, contact the MSU Extension Kalamazoo County office at 383-8830. Be sure to check out the website at http://national4-hcongress.com

Delegate Identification

Congress is designed for youth aged 14 to 19. Typically, Michigan sends around 20 delegates. Youth are limited to attending the program once as the program is very similar year to year. There is no state or regional selection for trips to National 4-H Congress, however, many counties have a selection process. While the MSUE State 4-H Office coordinates the delegation, counties identify the delegates.

Cost

Counties or the delegates are responsible for the trip’s cost (approximately $1500 per delegate). This covers the delegate’s round-trip airfare to Atlanta, registration fee, lodging, meals, a shirt and a group photo. Delegates will also want to bring about $100 for additional meals and souvenirs. Payment in full for the event must be in one week prior to the Conference.

Remember:

A Diamond is

merely a lump of

coal that did well

under pressure.

13 Michigan 4-H to host new summer

experience:

4-H Spartan Coding Camp In collaboration with CodeNow, MSU Extension 4-H is

excited to offer a new STEM experience for this summer: 4

-H Spartan Coding Camp! This 5-day residential camp

brings high-school aged youth to the campus of MSU, July 7-11.

Whether you have prior computer coding knowledge, or have never even thought about it, you

will gain valuable coding skills at this fun STEM camp. Learn to develop and launch your own tech

ideas; discover the essentials of web design and development; design and code an application from

scratch; and attract users for your product! The fun doesn’t stop there: at the end of camp you’ll be

given a series of take-home activities that allow you to further hone your coding skills.

To learn more, visit www.canr.msu.edu/4-h-spartan-coding-camp. Registration information will be

available soon; to receive a direct email regarding registration, please contact Christine Miller at

johns832@msu.edu or 517-552-6905.

Michigan 4-H Foundation opens 2019-20 grant cycle Awarded annually, the Michigan 4-H Foundation recently

opened their grant and award opportunities

for the 2019-2020 season. Open to 4-H volunteer leaders,

members and staff, the grants and awards support local

4-H clubs and county programs, as well as recognize

members of the 4-H community. All applications are

due June 1.

Opportunities include:

• Michigan 4-H Legacy Grants of $1,000. These grants are awarded to support development of

a

new program or initiative, or to strengthen, enhance

or expand a current program that’s making a

difference.

• 4-H On-Target Grants of $500. These grants

support 4-H Shooting Sports programs to enhance existing programs, develop a new program,

or offer a special experience related to 4-H Shooting Sports.

• The Collins 4-H Youth Horticulture Grant of $350. This grant is available only to 4-H youth

clubs and supports advancement of club work in plant science and horticulture activities.

• 4-H Educational Garden Grants of $1,000. These grants support the creation of local 4-H

educational gardens in Michigan.

• Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award (includes $1,000 grant). This

award recognizes the outstanding achievements of 4-H agricultural volunteers.

STATEWIDE NEWS

The 4-H After-School Robotics Club in Iosco

County received a $1,000 Michigan 4-H Legacy

Grant to use VEX Robotics as a tool to help club

members develop life skills.